Study Desk

"Take vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people [in death]."

Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for war, so that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD'S vengeance on Midian [for seducing Israel to participate in idolatry].

So out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe were selected, twelve thousand armed for war.

"But all the young girls who have not known a man intimately, keep alive for yourselves [to marry].

"Camp outside the camp for seven days; whoever has killed any person and whoever has touched any dead body, purify yourselves and your captives, on the third day and on the seventh day.

"Levy a tax for the LORD from the warriors who went to battle, one in five hundred of the persons, the oxen, the donkeys, and the flocks.

As for the Israelites' half, which Moses separated from that of the warriors—

"So we have brought as an offering to the LORD what each man obtained—articles of gold, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."

For the men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself.

So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) as a memorial for the sons of Israel before the LORD.

Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had very large herds of cattle, and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead [on the east side of the Jordan River], and indeed, the place was suitable for raising livestock.

the land which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, is a land [suitable] for livestock, and your servants have [very large herds of] livestock."

"For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the hearts of the Israelites so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have followed the LORD completely.'

"For if you turn back from following Him [completely], He will once again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people."

But the people of Reuben and Gad approached Moses and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks and [walled] cities for our children,

"For we will not inherit with them on the west side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan [River] toward the east."

Moses replied, "If you will do as you say, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for war,

"Build yourselves cities for your children, and folds for your sheep, and do that of which you have spoken."

"But your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to the battle, just as my lord says."